The Doctor In The TARDIS

Travels In Time And Space => The Hub => Topic started by: The Doc on November 21, 2010, 02:45:22 pm



Title: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: The Doc on November 21, 2010, 02:45:22 pm
Torchwood: Children of Earth worked brilliantly as a 5 part mini series and this year we are getting ten episodes of one story, but what would you actually prefer? One long story or stand alone episodes that have a general outline but are mainly seperate stories and adventures? RTD has already said we won't ever go back to that format, but what would you prefer?


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Aneurin on November 21, 2010, 04:50:17 pm
I am a bit torn to be honest. I like the focus on one story but I also liked the episodic format. For me, my biggest concern is that ten episodes of one story may be a bit much. 5 nights of COE was all well and good, but ten weeks of one story is another matter and may not work so well. Thats not to say I wouldnt enjoy it, just that people may end up growing weary over that amount of time.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Vampyros Adric on November 21, 2010, 05:51:38 pm
I don't like big, long continuous rolling arcs. Give me little self contained stories with good character development and I will be happy. This is because if I want a takeaway and I want to stick a DVD on, the average amount of time it takes me to lay out, eat and digest my provender is about 45 mins. I don't want to be finishing off my Chicken Jalfrezi and still having another 6 hours of story to get through. Frankly i'll be asleep.

That said, I really enjoyed the 'event' feeling generated by CoE - it did feel like we were watching something a little bit special (and how special - it was difficult but hells bells it was amazing). If the Torchwood team give me something like CoE I promise, I won't be moaning.

I suppose I could always have tapas - that is lots of nice nibbles that I can stretch out.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: TheDoctorDonna on November 24, 2010, 06:05:05 pm
I pretty much agree with everything said above. Except the tapas part (ew). If it is a good story than I am happy to lap it out but if it feels like it is being dragged out just to last for ten weeks then I will be feeling very quickly that we should go back to the episodic story format. Though either way I never want to go back to 5 episodes again. It just wasnt enough


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: mel42 on November 24, 2010, 11:14:32 pm
They could have an ongoing theme all season while incorporating shorter stories for each episode, like the seasons of new Doctor Who did with Bad Wolf or Torchwood mentions with a season finale that brings together the themes and resolves the plot. 

Focusing on one story for the whole season, like a mini-series, allows more time to go into details of that plot. But there could also be more opportunity for character development in stand-alone episodes, where the show isn't so rushed for time. With a five episode season they seemed to always be moving on to the next stage and there could have been more time spent on some aspects.  With a 13 episode season the viewers are allowed to get to know the characters better since they had more room for telling various stories, so I prefer that format.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Exterminate on November 27, 2010, 04:28:17 pm
I dont mind either way. I liked what they did with COE and I think they could make it work for a longer run. I liked the episodic way of doing things too, but I think to go back to it may be a bit odd now.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Nyki on November 27, 2010, 05:19:35 pm
I'd prefer separate stories, maybe with an overarching plot, rather than a single serial, but I'd still watch and enjoy, whichever they did.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Peri-Peri on November 28, 2010, 10:03:31 am
I agree with Nyki. I'm happy either way but seperate stories with one big story tying it together could work just as well. I suppose watching series 4 will be the clincher. COE worked but it was a lot shorter but if they can sustain a story for ten episodes then it should be great


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Sparky on January 28, 2013, 02:45:43 am
I don't think we will ever be getting another series of the show. I'd love it, but I just don't think it will ever happen. If it did come back, however, I would like to see it return to the episodic format of the earlier series.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Saber on January 28, 2013, 01:47:05 pm
I honestly prefer the format. A serial worked well for COE as a one off, but I'd much prefer longer series to be as they were at the start of the show.


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: ardalyon on January 29, 2013, 08:51:08 pm
frankly i still prefer the old cliff-hanger format of 25/30 min episodes. You could run ten of them together in a single story, no problem. They practically did in The War Games and went over that in The Dalek's Master Plan, albeit at the expense of a slightly tedious middle section


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Aneurin on January 30, 2013, 01:38:32 pm
Yea but they never had that format in Torchwood so I don't see them every using it. To be honest I don't think RTD will ever leave the season long story now. Maybe if he hands the reigns over though the next guy might change it up


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: The Cyber Mistress on January 31, 2013, 03:53:02 pm
COE was brilliant and for that story the shorter story format worked, but it didn't for Miracle Day. I'll always prefer the story of the week aproach personally


Title: Re: Should We Go Back To 13 Stand Alone Episodes?
Post by: Tardis-Console on August 07, 2013, 02:30:22 pm
I think the season long story worked well for COE because it was a shorter season, but it didn't work for the following season. I'd like to see them go back to a 'monster of the week' format if the show ever comes back.